The Reaper Fortnite: Rarity, Last Seen & John Wick

If you’ve spent time in Fortnite’s community, you’ve heard “The Reaper” come up in rarity debates. It’s the sleek, suit-clad skin that looks exactly like John Wick but carries a different name, and it’s become a symbol of the game’s earliest Battle Pass era. This article breaks down what The Reaper actually is, why it’s confused with John Wick, how rare it really is, and what its pickaxe means for players who still rock it.

Reaper pickaxe: Rare · 800 V-Bucks (Fortnite Wiki) ·
John Wick outfit: Legendary · 2,000 V-Bucks (Fortnite Wiki) ·
The Reaper outfit: Battle Pass exclusive · Season 3 (TikTok community clip)

What is the reaper in Fortnite?

The name “The Reaper” refers to two distinct cosmetics in Fortnite, and that overlap causes confusion. The first is a Rare pickaxe that costs 800 V-Bucks and has been in the Item Shop since October 31, 2017 (Fortnite Wiki). The second is a Legendary outfit – the one players call “the John Wick skin” – that was unlockable at Tier 100 of the Chapter 1, Season 3 Battle Pass (per TikTok community clip).

Outfit details and origin

Unlock requirement: Tier 100 · Season: Chapter 1 Season 3 · Duration: Feb 22 – Apr 30, 2018

The Reaper outfit is a black-suited character with slicked-back hair, a thin beard, and a calm, menacing expression. It was the final reward of the Season 3 Battle Pass, meaning only players who reached level 100 during that season earned it. Its in-game description simply reads “Reap what you sow,” but visually it’s an unmistakable homage to the Baba Yaga himself.

Community clips on TikTok frequently pair the Reaper outfit with the Reaper pickaxe, reinforcing the “OG sweaty” combo. The pickaxe’s description – “Harvest resources… and souls.” (FNBR.co) – adds to the dark, minimalist aesthetic that competitive players favor.

Is the reaper skin John Wick?

The short answer: no. The Reaper is not officially titled “John Wick” and was not created as part of any collaboration. However, the resemblance is so strong that the community has called it the John Wick skin since 2018 (per TikTok community discussion).

Visual similarities vs. official status

• The Reaper outfit has the same suit, posture, and facial features as Keanu Reeves’ character.
• Epic Games never used the name “John Wick” for this skin – it’s an original design that borrowed heavily from the films.
• Many players colloquially call it “John Wick,” but the in-game name is strictly “The Reaper.”

The pattern: Epic created an unofficial homage before securing the license. That changed in Season 9 when the official John Wick set arrived.

Epic Games’ later collaboration with John Wick

In May 2019, Epic Games officially partnered with Lionsgate to bring John Wick into Fortnite. The John Wick outfit is a Legendary skin that can be purchased for 2,000 V-Bucks or as part of a bundle for 2,400 V-Bucks (per Fortnite Wiki). It includes an unlockable battle-damaged style (per ExitLag Blog). The collaboration also introduced the Simple Sledge pickaxe, a heavy sledgehammer with a brown handle – a far cry from the sleek Reaper pickaxe.

Pocket-lint’s 2019 coverage confirmed the Wick’s Bounty limited-time mode and the official shop bundle. The official skin has returned multiple times, most recently in December 2023 after a 1,002-day gap (per MeriStation (AS.com)).

When was the reaper skin last seen?

The Reaper outfit has been seen exactly once: during Chapter 1, Season 3, which ran from February 22 to April 30, 2018. After that season ended, the skin became unobtainable and has never returned to the Item Shop (per TikTok community clip).

Availability window during Season 3

Only players who purchased the Season 3 Battle Pass (950 V-Bucks) and reached Tier 100 before the season’s end earned The Reaper. That window was about 67 days. Epic’s policy since Chapter 1 has been to never re-release Battle Pass exclusives, making The Reaper a true one-time reward.

Why it never returned to the Item Shop

• Epic has never sold a previous season’s Battle Pass outfit in the Item Shop.
• Databases like fnbr.co list The Reaper outfit with “Last Seen: Never” and “Occurrences: 0” because it was never sold individually (per FNBR.co).
• Community speculation about a potential return remains unconfirmed; Epic has given no indication of changing the policy.

How rare is the reaper skin?

The Reaper outfit is consistently ranked among the rarest skins in Fortnite. Because Season 3 had a smaller player base than later seasons, the number of accounts that unlocked Tier 100 was limited relative to the millions who play today (per TikTok community discussion).

Rarity ranking among Fortnite skins

While no official data from Epic Games exists, community-driven rarity lists (compiled from surveys and shop history) regularly place The Reaper in the top 5 or top 10 rarest skins. It’s often listed alongside other early Battle Pass exclusives like Black Knight (Season 2) and Sparkle Specialist (Season 2).

Estimated number of owners

• Fortnite had roughly 40 million active players by the end of 2018 (public estimates), but Season 3 (early 2018) likely had far fewer.
• Only a fraction of those players bought the Battle Pass and reached Tier 100.
• Third-party trackers and player polls suggest the skin is owned by less than 1% of the current player base.

For additional context on skin rarity within the Fortnite universe, see our guide on Fortnite Ramirez: Who Is She? Skins, Lore, and Rarity Explained.

Is the reaper a sweaty pickaxe?

Yes – the Reaper pickaxe has earned a reputation as a “sweaty” or “tryhard” cosmetic in Fortnite’s competitive community. The label is subjective, but the pattern is consistent: older, simple, minimalistic pickaxes are preferred by high-skill players, and the Reaper pickaxe is one of the earliest examples (YouTube – The SWEATIEST Fortnite Pickaxes of 2021).

The pickaxe’s reputation in the community

• The Reaper pickaxe is a small, dark scythe with a clean swing animation.
• Creators who rank “sweatiest” pickaxes often include Reaper alongside Star Wand and Driver (per YouTube community videos).
• Because the pickaxe is from Chapter 1 Season 1 and has been in the Item Shop many times (89+ occurrences by June 2026), it’s not truly rare in availability, but its association with early, skilled players gives it status.

Gameplay impact and aesthetics

The Reaper pickaxe’s minimalistic design means it doesn’t obstruct the screen during building or editing, a key reason competitive players favor it. However, any pickaxe is cosmetic only – there is no gameplay advantage. The “sweaty” label is entirely community-driven.

Timeline: The Reaper and John Wick in Fortnite

This timeline traces the key events that define the rarity and availability of these cosmetics.

Clarity section: Confirmed vs. unclear

Quotes from the community

“The Reaper is probably the rarest skin I own, I never take it off.”

Reddit user xKrAzYx in a 2023 rare skins thread (Reddit r/FortNiteBR)

The Reaper pickaxe – “Harvest resources… and souls.”

In-game description (per FNBR.co)

“The Reaper is a Legendary Outfit in Fortnite that was previously unlockable by reaching Tier 100 of the Season 3 Battle Pass.”

Fortnite Wiki entry (per Fortnite Wiki pickaxe page) – note: this quote is from the pickaxe page but the community cross-refers

Summary: What the Reaper saga means for players

The Reaper outfit is Fortnite’s ultimate nostalgia item – a skin that can never be earned again, tied to the game’s early Battle Pass era. For players who missed Season 3, the only way to experience a piece of that history is the Reaper pickaxe, which remains available in the Item Shop. The official John Wick skin, meanwhile, offers a licensed alternative that has returned several times. For the collector who values exclusivity, the Reaper outfit is the holy grail; for everyone else, the pickaxe is a wearable badge of the early chapter.

For the player who started in Chapter 2 or later, the choice is clear: buy the Reaper pickaxe if you want the look, but the outfit you’ll never own. The game has moved on, and so has Epic’s collaboration strategy – the Reaper era is firmly in the past.

To learn more about the developer behind Fortnite, see our Epic Games guide.